New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fidimpmaxwhi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Fidimpmaxwhi’, characterized by its upright and broadly outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant form; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; large white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIDIMPMAXWHI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fidimpmaxwhi’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching New Guinea Impatiens plants with early and freely flowering habit and large uniquely-colored attractive flowers.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made in 2004 by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081330, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081340, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens plant have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fidimpmaxwhi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fidimpmaxwhi’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright and broadly outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded         plant form.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large white-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the parent selections. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of         the parent selections.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are larger than         flowers of plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Tamar White Improved’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,675. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Tamar White Improved’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Tamar White Improved’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens were larger than         flowers of plants of ‘Tamar White Improved’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fidimpmaxwhi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands under cultural practices typical of commercial Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were eleven weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Fidimpmaxwhi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081330, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081340, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at             temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six to eight days at             temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 19             days at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 14 to 21             days at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white to brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and broadly outwardly             spreading growth habit; mounded plant form, flattened             globular; freely branching habit with about five lateral             branches; pinching is typically not required; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 50 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 cm to 6 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146B slightly tinted with close to 183B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of about five; simple.         -   Length.—About 11 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; moderately glossy in luster.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than N137A; venation,             close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138B; venation, close to 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147D slightly tinted with             close to 183D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded axillary             flowers; freely flowering habit with about 25 flowers             developing per plant; flowers positioned above the foliage             and typically face upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, continuous flowering from spring             through the summer in The Netherlands; early flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about ten to eleven weeks             after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant             under greenhouse conditions; petals self-cleaning, gynoecium             persistent.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth: About 5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Ovoid; pointed. Color: Close to N155D.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl. Length, banner petal: About 2.5 cm. Length,             lateral and lower petals: About 2.5 cm. Width, banner petal:             About 4 cm. Width, lateral and lower petals: About 2.5 cm.             Shape, all petals: Cordate. Apex, all petals: Emarginate.             Base, all petals: Attenuate. Margin, all petals: Entire.             Texture, all petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, banner petal: When opening, upper surface:             Close to N155D. When opening, lower surface: Close to N155D;             small central longitudinal stripe, close to 144B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N155D; color does not change             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             N155D; small central longitudinal stripe, close to 144B.             Color, lateral and lower petals: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to N155D. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to N155D; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three; two lateral sepals             and the third modified with an elongated spur. Length,             lateral sepals: About 9 mm. Length, spurred sepal: About             1.6 cm. Length, spur: About 5.5 cm. Width, lateral sepals:             About 5 mm. Width, spurred sepal: About 1.7 cm. Diameter,             spur: About 2 mm. Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate. Shape,             spurred sepal: Broadly ovate with elongated spur. Apex, all             sepals: Acuminate. Base, all sepals: Cuneate. Margin, all             sepals: Entire. Texture, all sepals, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature: All sepals,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to N155D; apex, close to             144B. Spur, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B to 144D.             Color, mature: Lateral sepals, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 144B to 144D. Spurred sepal, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to N155D; apex, close to 144B. Spur, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             Mostly erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther             color: Close to 158B and N155D. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 0.5 mm. Stigma shape: Capitate.             Stigma color: Close to 158D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Impatiens plant. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Fidimpmaxwhi’ as illustrated and described. 